Coach's challenge has merit - NRL Daily

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Following the Sharks' controversial loss to the Panthers in golden point in Round 21, Shane Flanagan has called for an introduction of an NFL-style "coach's challenge", allowing coaches to call on the video referee to adjudicate disputable decisions on the field.

Tonight on NRL Daily host John Gibbs is joined by NRL stats guru David Middleton and journalist Brent Read to debate the introduction of this new rule as well as the other hot topics in our weekly 'Voice of Reason' segment.

"I don't mind it," says Gibbs. "I think it should be one challenge so it doesn't get overused or slow the game down any more than it needs to. I think it's got some merit.

"Using the Sharks as a case study they've been duded twice in golden point matches and that's cost them four competition points through no fault of their own. I can understand why Shane Flanagan feels gutted, the Sharks could be sitting in third place."

David Middleton thinks the idea is worth considering, but believes it will not prevent controversial decisions.

"If each coach is given one coach's challenge per game then it may have done Shane Flanagan no good last week because he undoubtedly would have already used it on the short kick-off," says Middleton. "Give them more than one challenge and it threatens to disrupt the flow of the game."

On the opposing side of the fence is Brent Read, who doesn't think the rule change would work. "I think it would be hard to manage," says Read. "What would happen if he'd used up his challenges and we got to the kick off... nothing would have changed. I'm not a fan."

Other hot topics to be discussed include the battle to avoid the wooden spoon and whether Ricky Stuart should be allowed to coach the Eels and NSW.

Do you have a hot topic you would like us to cover? Let us know on twitter @NRL_Daily.

Get all this and more in tonight's episode of NRL Daily, the only NRL show that's on every night of the week.

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